Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 190 i Australian Mountain Bike

RIDER: TROY BROSNAN The mountain bike world had a long wait for the World Cup to return with a full season, after a shortened series in 2020. What better way to start things off than with Troy Brosnan lighting it up in qualifying, and then delivering a huge win at the first round of the World Cup in Leogang, Austria? The World Cup is back. RIDER: ANTON COOPER The Cross-Country World Cup is changing, with courses getting more technical and punchy, all while Nino Schurter’s rule is diminishing. Anton Cooper has been racing towards the top step of the podium for a few seasons, and at Round 3 of the XCO World Cup in Leogang, Austria, Cooper took the bull by the horns from the start, fading a little to…

In 2020, Rocky Trail Entertainment successfully navigated mountain bike event delivery up and down the east coast, and even the AMB 100 managed to run with unique timing and in a new location across Sparrow Hill and Kowen Forest. Now in 2021, the AMB 100 returns home to Mt Stromlo, Canberra, as the event celebrates its 10th year of racing and fun in the nation’s capital. Like in previous editions, the AMB 100 is based on a circuit that gets set out at Stromlo Forest Park in the days preceding the event. A mix of popular trails are linked with sections of fireroad, to create a lap that is typically between 25-30km, taking in some of the best trails in the forest. Where your challenge lies is up to you.…

You do not simply launch a new World Cup XC team without a new XC bike. When Santa Cruz not only signed World Cup star Maxime Marotte, but created a roster of riders to do battle on the World Cup circuit, it was clear the Blur was about to be superseded. The all-new Blur was launched in early June with an XC and TR variant, and the frame has some major changes for Santa Cruz. The Juliana brand also released the Wilder, a rebadged model of the TR variant. The bikes all share the same carbon frame, be it in the C or CC carbon grade from Santa Cruz. When looking at the new bikes, the most notable feature would be the absence of the popular Virtual Pivot Point (VPP)…

Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but too long and our attention will inevitably turn elsewhere, distracted by lesser things. It is hard to reflect on what we have been doing with our time while there hasn’t been any World Cup Downhill on offer, it’s easy to imagine that we have used our time wisely between these, months a time, gaps between races. But I suspect, like me, that all you have been doing is agonising over when the next race will be, maybe even looking for a placeholder, something that might briefly catch your interest as if it were something that wanted to be captured, not pulled in every direction by unwanted distractions. Agonise no more. World Cup DH is back, and it’s back with a bang! I’m…

The mountain bike world is never short of buzz words, and one of the new buzz words describing a market segment is down-country. Yes, it’s a mix of downhill and cross-country, but there’s more to it than that. I wouldn’t put a travel limit on what a down-country bike is, it’s more about how the bike can be ridden, both up and down. A good down-country bike is defined by how the suspension action, low weight, progressive geometry and parts all add up for a very capable ride under the right pilot. A down-country bike is not a short travel trail bike. A big difference here is overall weight. Most short travel trail bikes do tend to have a lot of junk in the trunk when it comes to climbing,…

You might think putting a gravel bike in the mix is a little odd, but they are proving to be more and more popular as a second bike for lots of people that do not want to do the dance with cars and still want that dirt fix. Think of it as a gateway bike for roadies to get into mountain bikes – or vice versa. My gravel bike is fitted with 160mm rotors all round and they use the centrelock fitment. Galfer must be applauded here by suppling lock rings with their rotors, not everyone does this. Using the Black (Universal) pad there was no ground-breaking changes to the SRAM Force AXS brakes over the stock brake pads, but I did note that after around 1500km that the pads…

With 2021 being the year of domestic travel, more and more mountain bikers are jumping on board the van life trend, myself included. Being able to hop in your van and head away for the weekend on a whim is fantastic, but a good fit out can make the experience far more enjoyable. In this article I’m looking at three very different van setups to see what works, and what doesn’t across a wide range of sizes, features, and prices. WILL’S TOYOTA HIACE - THE BUDGET FRIENDLY CHOICE We’ll start off with my setup, which is by far the cheapest and most basic of the bunch. The van is a 2001 Toyota Hiace SBV, and I picked it up with a cool 300,000 kilometres on the odometer. My housemate does…

Shimano’s new Linkglide drivetrains are primarily aimed at eBikes. Whilst Hyperglide+ remains Shimano’s premium shifting option in terms of the shift lightness, shift speed and overall performance, the robustness of Linkglide components will appeal to both eMTB riders and product managers across the globe. Why wouldn’t additional robustness appeal to ‘regular’ bikes as well? With the additional reinforcement added to the cassette, the 11-50 11 speed XT cassette weighs in at a whopping 780 grams. Compared to an 11-46 XT 11 speed cassette at 440 grams, that’s nearly double the weight, and the rear wheel isn’t a great spot for that weight either. So, whilst you could run Linkglide components on your regular bike, you’re going to want some serious watts in your legs to get you up the climbs.…

Ion’s motto of ‘surfing trails’ gives a hint into their background as a watersports brand. Founded in 2004, Ion initially focussed on wetsuits and neoprene products for surfing, kiting, and wakeboarding. It was 2013 when Ion stepped into the mountain biking arena, and their current range is impressive considering they’ve only been in the industry for 8 years. Ion’s mountain bike offerings have continued to grow since their introduction to brand’s line up, and I’ve been seeing more and more of their products out on the trails. For this review I was sent a set of their Scrub flat pedal shoes, which retail for $199. The Scrub Select shoes (RRP: $285), are also reviewed on AMBmag.com.au. There are an additional 5 shoes in the Australian range, with prices ranging from…

During our Sunshine Coast Adventure chronicled in Issue 189, one riding destination stuck out among the rest. In a region which was previously known for its tight twisty tracks and modest trail heads lies the entirely contradictory and sometimes controversial Sugar Bag Road Trail Centre. Lying a mere 4km from the beautiful Moffat Beach is what was once a small, disused piece of bushland that is now packed full of trails rated from Green to Double Black. When it comes to Sugar Bag Road the name of the game is community. Home to Caloundra Off Road Cycling Association (CORCA), one of the most active and engaged mountain bike clubs we have ever seen, Sugar Bag has something to challenge everyone from beginner to expert. You may not be wearing out…

Keeping your new eMTB running like clockwork shares a lot in common with a bike that doesn’t have pedal assistance. However, with a battery, motor and sensors, and parts that are under a lot more load when riding, there are a few key things to consider when doing regular maintenance on your eMTB. 1 Check and clean connectors Each time you charge or wash your bike, its not a bad idea as with any electrical product to take a peek and make sure there is no buildup of dust or any other grit that could get into the connectors cause a shorting issue or damage the connector its self. A small paint brush or old toothbrush (use these dry) will do the trick. If you have an aircompressor, a quick…

I pinched the cover line from this 190th issue of Australian Mountain Bike as I think it’s a really apt attitude to take right now. When I contacted our new contributor Georgina von Marburg about interviewing Zoe Cuthbert, we spoke about how it was refreshing that Zoe just wanted to ride everything. While she is a leading cross-country racer, she isn’t typecast as such. While the mountain bike media (us included!) are keen to shoehorn bikes, trails, riders and the rest into one segment or another, it is worth stepping back and remembering that every one of us is a mountain biker. You might have an enduro bike, ride cross-country trails and wear trail clothing – but you’re still a mountain biker. Maybe you can’t get enough of long, arduous…

Mad keen to show the enduro world that you can race on the big stage? Well, you better qualify first. There are a few EWS qualifiers around Australia but the Phoenix Enduro at Christchurch Adventure Park on 23 October might be just the perfect reason to tie in a riding trip to New Zealand’s South Island. Based in the Port Hills, Christchurch Adventure Park suffered a horrific fire a few years back but it has been rebuilt. The cafe and facility hub is nestled in the pines, with a network of hand-built and machine built trails on the slopes above. There are over 30 trails to ride at the park, with about half of them Black rated, so you can expect a varied and testing bunch of trails for the…

In the middle of June, a new Scott Spark full-suspension platform was released. Or more accurately, two platforms, with the 120mm travel Spark RC (below) and the 130/120mm Spark (above). There is a new hidden shock location, a move to a flexstay, the ability to carry two water bottles and adjustable geometry. Just like the previous Spark range, the Spark RC is aimed right at those doing bar-to-bar battle between the tape, with a shorter travel fork for aggressive racing with superb suspension capability. The Spark range is more like a light and fast trail bike with a bigger fork and different rear shock. By moving the Trunnion mounted shock into the frame, and reducing the size of the link while doing so, the Scott engineers could fine tune the…

Let’s cut to the chase, if you are reading this magazine you already have a fair grasp on risk management and the risk / reward equation in relation to riding a mountain bike. Risk is ultimately at the core of everything we do. People have a perception of risk based on their life experience. We all know people who appear to have zero care for their personal safety, the risk takers, the ones sending massive gaps whenever they get a chance. We also all know people who are so cautious about the world that they rarely do anything, they are paralysed by the fear that every bad thing that could happen, will happen to them. Neither approach is wrong, it is just that different life experiences create different perceptions. For…

It’s great to see more eMTB specific products coming out, as brake performance can often be overlooked on eMTBs. Some brands like Trek spec 200mm rotors front and rear on a medium sized Rail eMTB. This is great and a step in the right direction that some brands do not do in order to save weight on the 20+kg eMTB – I’m not sure I follow the logic! If a rider is say 80kg and once they have all their gear on they are now 85kg, then they jump on a 22kg bike. Those brakes are suddenly having to pull up over 100kg and often more, over and over again. It’s a big job. This is where Galfer have done a standout job and by all accounts have not produced…

Competition or race is often used to describe a product that is best of the best and going to give you ultimate performance over a standard product. This is what Galfer set out to do with their Green (Competition) pads. What is interesting about these Green pads is Galfer call them “For Competition, no need running in”. This is a rather odd claim! Based on how we know disc brake pads and rotors work to create friction and stopping power it would seem like perhaps this is a bad translation to English? I installed the Competition pads and ripped off to the trails without the standard running in protocol to see how things went. Truth be told before reaching the trail head it was apparent that running in was going…

I’ve spent much of my adult life riding, racing and travelling. Riding feeds racing, racing feeds travelling, and travelling creates the desire to ride more. This cycle built year on year to the point that I was very much used to putting my life in Australia on hold for months on end, while jamming the essentials to ride, race, eat, sleep and repeat into a backpack and bike box for a few months of travel. While I can tick off so many epic riding destinations and events through Europe and North America, my travel anywhere like the Middle East, Asia or South America was nearly non-existent. I’d been to the Cape Epic a few times, ventured to Sri Lanka and traipsed across the steppe in Mongolia. In 2018 I noticed…

1 PACK, AND UNPACK, EVERYTHING Unless you have a large, purpose built van and very few items – you might find you’re unpacking and repacking the van a few times a day. Did you pick up a hire van from the airport? With bike bags, luggage, groceries and bikes – it’s a constant game of tetris. 2 MEALS ON WHEELS In the planning stage for a mountain bike trip in a van, it seems ideal. But cooking stooped over with crappy utensils might mean you’re looking for a pub or restauarant more often than you’d like. 3 CAMELS OF THE ROAD If a camel is a ship of the desert, a van is the camel of the road. They lumber along country roads, occasionally nearing 20% below the speed limit.…

With the cold and wet quarter of the year looming over us, it’s time to consider your winter gear. If you’re a fair-weather cyclist, you can cease reading this now. But if you’re a fearless swashbuckler who thrives in “un-rideable” conditions and unpredictable weather, this review is for you. New Zealanders are hardened experts in the wet season, so naturally their homemade cycling apparel brand, Ground Effect, provides a plethora of rain jackets. The She Shell model (more appropriately named the Stormtrooper in the equivalent men’s version) is their mid-range offering at $356. Instinctively, this is not cheap; but when you explore jackets with similar waterproof ratings from other outdoor apparel brands, you’ll find this price competitive. WATERP ROOFING Exactly how waterproof is this jacket? For those interested, waterproofing is…

I’ll be honest, when I first saw a Titanium tubeless valve flash onto my social media feed, I had to wonder why. Partly as I assumed the cost would be into triple figures, and also because steel and alloy ones work just fine. Assumptions are not fact, and while $67.50 isn’t cheap for a set of tubeless valves, it’s only about $12 more than one of my other favourites, Peaty’s Tubeless Valves (RRP $55). And while most steel and alloy tubeless valves do work ‘just fine’, being made of Titanium is just one of the advantages that adds up with the Elk Titanium Tubeless valves. First, let’s look at the materials. Titanium is strong and highly corrosion resistant. I’ve damaged threads on alloy tubeless valves, and I just don’t see…

This might seem hard to believe for the younger folk out there, but the “scrub” technique over jumps is actually a relatively new technique. Prior to the legendary James Stewart bringing the scrub to fruition, it was all about squashing jumps. Scrubbing jumps is a relatively difficult technique to get right, and for the intermediate level rider, it’s going to take a long time to master. Squashing jumps on the other hand is relatively straight forward. Over large jumps at high speeds, it definitely isn’t as effective as scrubbing but as your speed and skill prog resses and the jumps become smaller underneath you, squashing jumps is a great and fairly natural progression. It’s also a great technique for advanced riders when you need a really good pump on the…

Perfect anytime on a cold winter’s day – this smoothie will warm and comfort you in a healthy and nutritious way. Super easy to prepare, it is particularly beneficial if you are having trouble warming up after a chilly ride. It helps promote thermogenesis – the process of your body producing heat in order to metabolise (breakdown) the ingested food. Our warming ingredients are ginger – awesome for your digestive system, and also diaphoretic (stimulates the perspiration process) helping to warm you up from the inside out. Ginger is also well known for its anti-bacterial properties – a benefit which certainly doesn’t go astray at this time of year. Cinnamon, our second warming ingredient also contains unique anti-bacterial properties and has specifically been shown to warm the body by increasing…

In early June news hit the airwaves that not only was the Enduro World Series (EWS) returning to Australia in 2022, but that there would be two races in Tasmania! Even better for local riders wanting to test their mettle with true enduro big wigs, there will also be a round in New Zealand. With most of us unlikely to get travel exemptions beyond the Australian/New Zealand bubble based on current restrictions, this is an excellent result for those who yearn for international caliber racing. And it’s a boon for fans, spectators and the mountain bike industry in our region as well. The 2022 series has 11 rounds, including five EWS-E races and a return of the Trophy of Nations The opening round of the 2022 EWS lands at Maydena…

If you can imagine it (and perhaps you can’t) I was once in the school musical. It was an iconic production of a Broadway and film hit, and I got a sick guitar/vocal solo about small flowers. This column is brought to you by another theatrical hit from the same production, “So long, Farewell”. It’s been many years since I started as the X Factor columnist and throughout that time much has changed within the sport, and within my life as well. I’ve been fortunate to have been a part of the column team for around 7 years, and in that time have definitely done the requisite learning required to grow in life and on the bike. Here are a few of my favourite takeaways from throughout that time: 1.…

Bikepacking, or multi-day rides by bike, certainly isn’t new. But multi-day adventure rides to escape crowds has seen a huge increase in mountain bikers giving bikepacking a try in recent years. After all, what’s not to like about riding all day and setting up camp under the stars? Despite sounding perfect in theory, doing some planning before your first trip to make sure it runs smoothly is well worth the effort. To help with that I’ve put together a ten-step guide to your first trip. I reached out to experienced bikepacker Adam Macbeth for his thoughts, and I know I’ll be implementing his recommendations on my next trip. 1. Decide on your route The first step is deciding on your route. Do you want to ride genuine singletrack, or will…

Whether it’s too cold outside, too wet, too dark or too hot, there are a number of climatic conditions that might stop you from getting out to hit the trails. Similarly, life pressures can reduce your ride time. But if you have a fitness goal, or a mountain bike holiday booked where you won’t have much fun if you’re not fit, then finding the time to push on the pedals is essential. And that’s where indoor training fits in. In the age of smart trainers and apps, e-sports are exploding. Changes in technology over the past 10 years let you go head-to-head with thousands of other riders in sweaty basements and spare rooms around the world, or just pedal in digital solace to the whir of gears, flywheels and fans.…

Galfer is one of the world’s leading manufacturer of friction materials (pads and rotors) for the motorcycle word. Founded in 1952 and with innovation as its driving force for more than 60 years Galfer has reached the top of its game in motorsport. All Galfer products are manufactured in their 6000 square metre factory located in Granollers, Barcelona - Spain. This is also home to their own team of engineers and testing facilities where the strictest guidelines are followed in the development of all new Galfer products for both powersports and cycling. The experience Galfer has in the high-powered and high-risk world of Moto GP tends to lean into their high quality of product. Their team in the R&D department combines passion and enthusiasm with the latest technology to offer…

Galfer offer an excellent range of pads and it really shows their racing pedigree when you have options like, Wet/Muddy, Competition, Trials, Universal as well as Ebike! I tried 3 types of pad and had a think about the bikes and riding we were doing before ordering them from FE Sports. I chose Black (Universal) on my gravel bike as it would see the biggest range of conditions but also require the least amount of raw power due to the lower speeds. Next up it was the Green (Competition) pad that was to go on my short travel trail bike. Finally for my eMTB I went the purple (Ebike) pads. In the interest of creating a baseline of sorts I used the same model wave rotor, just changing the mounting…

It was December 2019 when bushfires savaged Cudlee Creek Forest Reserve and the Fox Creek trail network within it, leading to its devastating closure. With Covid dominating the headlines in 2020, it was only in 2021 when the potential of trails reopening began to filter through from landowner ForestrySA. Thanks to a concerted effort from ForestrySA and their supporters, Fox Creek Bike Park has been supported by a grant from the Government of South Australia and the Australian Government of 2.5 million dollars. Now, the focus is on to build-back-better and formally establish Fox Creek Bike Park, which is in Adelaide’s Mount Lofty Ranges and about 50 minutes from Adelaide’s airport and CBD. A cost benefit analysis firmly supported the benefits of a multi-use Bike Park, revealing that for every…

It has been six years since we first saw the Turbo Levo storm the mountain bike eMTB world and here we are with the third iteration of the eMTB that was always a bit ahead of the rest in terms of technology and trail feel. Earlier this hyear Specialized released the new Turbo Levo in S-Works and Pro variants, and the Expert lowers the price point for all the new tech to $15900. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS It sure does look like a Levo, the overall appearance is very similar at first glance to that of its predecessor even with a some small tweaks, but are they really that small? The Turbo Levo is not the first eMTB I have seen sporting the mullet setup with a 29 inch up front and…

As Ben Morrison discussed earlier this issue, there is a lot of performance to be gained in choosing the right disc brake pad and rotor to suit your riding, your trails and your braking system. These days, stock brake pads are pretty good. Actually, for the big brands they are really good. But just like for every part of your bike, if you’re chasing a little more performance, there are options out there that can deliver a bit more of what you’re after. All Mountain Project (AMP) is the vision of two composite engineers from France. They wanted better performance, and felt the use of carbon fiber for brake backing plates may be part of it. The benefits include a lower weight, better heat regulation (and less transfer into the…

At risk of sounding like a broken record, upgrading your wheels can have one of the biggest impacts on the performance of your bike – no matter what kind of bike it is. This rings true for lots of bikes on the market, from long-travel eMTBs through to cross-country rockets. You’ll often find that if you’re not looking at the top spec model of a bike, the wheels might leave you wanting. And that’s fine, as they’re easy to upgrade to exactly what you want down the track sometime. And that brings me to Hunt Bike Wheels. This British company have been expanding their line of wheels, filling in the gaps that can be left by other companies. With a range of carbon and alloy rimmed wheels for road, mountain…

WHY IS GOOD GUT HEALTH IMPORTANT? Research is showing more and more the importance of good gut health for overall health. The body is made up of cells as well as other microorganisms known as the ‘microbiome’. These microorganisms are especially prevalent in the gut, with ‘good’ bacteria that can assist with digestion, and ‘bad’ bacteria that can cause disease. In fact, a healthy gut microbiome with a favourable balance of good and bad bacteria has been linked with better overall health through an increased immunity, better mood and reduced risk of disease. THE GUT AND PERFORMANCE Good gut health can impact performance on the bike. Studies have found a healthy gut microbiome can help to support the immune system which increases training days. In fact, one research paper found…

Sometimes climbing sucks. There, I said it. It’s controversial; I usually love climbing and embracing the challenge of a 2000-3000m vert day in the saddle, but there are definitely times when it sucks. Usually it’s because we are unprepared for the challenge ahead, whether it be the first long, mountainous training ride of your training program that season, or heading into an XCO ‘training’ race without having done much intensity. Improving your climbing is one of the best ways to improve performance outcomes in many mountain bike disciplines. But while we aren’t all born natural mountain goats, the good news is that we can train for the uncomfortable effects of gravity. First, let’s look at some other considerations for climbing mastery. Gearing Mountain bike gearing is obviously of a wider…